The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the

weevil Weevils are beetles belonging to the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small, less than in length, and herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They belong to several families, ...

family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as '' Entimus'', '' Otiorhynchus'', '' Phyllobius'', '' Sitona'', and '' Pachyrrhynchus''. In comparison with their stunning diversity, only a few of these weevils are notorious

pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

s of major economic importance. Entimines are commonly encountered in the field, including urban environments, and abundant in entomological collections.

Diversity

There are over 12000 described species worldwide, distributed in over 1370 genera, nearly 14000 by more recent counts. Most tribes are represented in only one biogeographic region of the world. The current classification within the subfamily has been recognized as artificial rather than reflecting natural groups.

General morphology

Besides the shape of their broad and short rostrum, most entimines are easily recognized by the presence of a mandibular scar that appears when a deciduous process falls off the mandible, shortly after the emergence of the adult from the pupal stage.

Ecology

In general, entimines tend to feed on a broad range of plants (

polyphagous Feeding is the process by which organisms, typically animals, obtain food. Terminology often uses either the suffixes -vore, -vory, or -vorous from Latin ''vorare'', meaning "to devour", or -phage, -phagy, or -phagous from Greek φαγ� ...

), but there are instances of oligophagy. In general, the larvae feed externally on roots in the soil and adults feed on foliage. They also show preference for habitat or substrate rather than plant specificity. Entimine weevils are primarily associated with

angiosperms Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of br ...

, but there are also species recorded from

gymnosperms The gymnosperms ( lit. revealed seeds) are a group of seed-producing plants that includes conifers, cycads, '' Ginkgo'', and gnetophytes, forming the clade Gymnospermae. The term ''gymnosperm'' comes from the composite word in el, γυμν� ...

. They feed on monocotyledoneous and a broad range of dicotyledoneous plants, including members of the families Fabaceae,

Malvaceae Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cotton, cacao and durian. There are also some genera containing familiar o ...

Rutaceae The Rutaceae is a family, commonly known as the rueRUTACEAE
in BoDD – Botanical Der ...

Solanaceae The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and o ...

, and many more. The most commonly seen/known species are usually those associated with vegetation, where there is a trend to find more abundance and less diversity in cultivated areas, whereas forested or less disturbed areas tend to have more diversity and less abundance; there is a lot of diversity represented in the soil and on leaf litter, which is often overlooked. The most effective method for collecting entimines from vegetation would be using a beating sheet or by manual collecting; for soil entimines the best method would be leaf litter sifting.

Biology

Entimines may lay eggs loosely on the substrate, or in clusters glued onto the vegetation and do not use their rostrum to prepare their oviposition site. Over 50 species of entimines have been reported as parthenogenetic. The

integument In biology, an integument is the tissue surrounding an organism's body or an organ within, such as skin, a husk, shell, germ or rind. Etymology The term is derived from ''integumentum'', which is Latin for "a covering". In a transferred, or ...

of entimines can be black, reddish, orange and even metallic in coloration. Many species of Entiminae are covered by scales arranged in a broad variety of patterns. Those scales bear three dimensional photonic crystals within their lumen, which makes the scales iridescent. Many species are flightless, which usually can be seen externally: the elytral shoulders (outer anterior corners of the

elytra An elytron (; ; , ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs ( Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometimes altern ...

) are reduced to absent in apterous and brachypterous forms and well-developed in species with well-developed wings. Elytral shoulders

Tribes

The current tribal classification of Entiminae follows Alonso-Zarazaga & Lyal for the most part, with a few updates by Bouchard et al. The latest tribal addition is the Namaini Borovec & Meregalli. Currently, there are 55 tribes recognized in the subfamily. A key to identify tribes is presented by Legalov. * Agraphini * Alophini * Anomophthalmini * Anypotactini * Blosyrini *

Brachyderini The Brachyderini are a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae. Genera * '' Achradidius'' * '' Aedophronus'' * '' Alatavia'' * '' Araxia'' * '' Baladaeus'' * '' Brachyderes'' * '' Caulostrophilus'' * '' Caulostrophus'' * '' Epiphaneus'' * '' E ...

Celeuthetini The Celeuthetini are a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phy ...

* Cneorhinini * Cratopodini *

Cylydrorhinini Cylydrorhinini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllo ...

* Cyphicerini * Ectemnorhinini *

Elytrurini Elytrurini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae. Genera ''Amphionotus'' – ''Anomalodermus'' – ''Desmelytrurus'' – ''Elytrurus'' – ''Epizorus'' – ''Gaynaria'' References * Marshall, G.A.K. 1956: Notes on the Campyloscelina ...

* Embrithini *

Entimini Entimini is a Neotropical weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae that includes 46 described species. Most members of the tribe can be recognized by their relatively large and robust bodies. A key to identify the genera of Entimini can be found ...

* Episomini *

Eudiagogini Eudiagogini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae. Genera ''Aetherhinus'' – ''Aracanthus'' – ''Chileudius'' – ''Colecerus'' – ''Eucoleocerus'' – ''Eudiagogus'' – ''Eudius'' – ''Eudomus'' – ''Eurpsaces'' – ''Oligocryptu ...

* Eupholini * Eustylini *

Geonemini Geonemini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae. Taxonomy The tribe Geonemini was first named by Gistel in 1856 (p. 373). Genera There are 40 genera currently placed in Geonemini: * '' Anomadus'' Horn, 1876: 21: Mexico. * '' An ...

* Holcorhinini *

Hormorini Hormorini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllobius' ...

Laparocerini Laparocerini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllobi ...

Leptostethini Leptostethini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllob ...

Lordopini Lordopini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae. Genera ''Acanthobrachis'' – ''Aeuryomus'' – ''Alocorhinus'' – ''Anidopsis'' – ''Atomorhinus'' – ''Aulametopus'' – ''Conidus'' – ''Conothorax'' – ''Deroconus'' – ''Diapro ...

Mesostylini Mesostylini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllobiu ...

* Myorhinini * Nastini * Namaini *

Naupactini Naupactini is a tribe of broad-nosed weevils (subfamily Entiminae). Primarily from the Neotropical realm, reaches highest genus and species diversity in South America. Their size varies from 3.5 to 35 mm long, and its colour patterns are div ...

Nothognathini Nothognathini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllob ...

Omiini Omiini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllobius'', ...

Oosomini Oosomini is a tribe of weevils in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllobi ...

Ophryastini Ophryastini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllobiu ...

* Ophtalmorrhynchini *

Otiorhynchini Otiorhynchini is a true weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Ph ...

* Ottistirini * Pachyrhynchini * Peritelini *

Phyllobiini Phyllobiini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae. Genera '' Amphorygma'' – '' Aphrastus'' – '' Argoptochus'' – '' Brachymerinthus'' – '' Brachymiscus'' – '' Brachyxystus'' – '' Catorygma'' – '' Dichorrhinus'' – '' Drepa ...

* Polycatini *

Polydrusini Polydrusini is a weevil tribe (taxonomy), tribe in the subfamily Entiminae. Genera * ''Apodrosus'' * ''Auchmeresthes'' * ''Bremondiscytropus'' * ''Cautoderus'' * ''Gobidrusus'' * ''Homapterus'' * ''Liophloeus'' * ''Pachyrhinus'' * ''Polydrosod ...

Premnotrypini Premnotrypini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllob ...

* Pristorhynchini * Prypnini * Psallidiini * Rhyncogonini * Sciaphilini * Sitonini *

Tanymecini Tanymecini is a tribe of broad-nosed weevils in the beetle family Curculionidae, subfamily Entiminae. Subtribes and genera Piazomiina # '' Achlainomus'' G. R. Waterhouse, 1853 # '' Aphaeromias'' Nasreddinov, 1978 # '' Atmetonychus'' Schönher ...

* Tanyrhynchini *

Thecesternini Thecesternini is a weevil tribe in the subfamily Entiminae The Entiminae are a large subfamily in the weevil family Curculionidae, containing most of the short-nosed weevils, including such genera as ''Entimus'', ''Otiorhynchus'', ''Phyllob ...

* Trachyphloeini *

Tropiphorini Tropiphorini is a tribe of weevils in the subfamily Entiminae. Genera ''Achorius'' – ''Adaleres'' – ''Agatholobus'' – ''Amisallus'' – ''Amnemus'' – ''Amphidees'' – ''Anametis'' – ''Baryopadus'' – ''Basedowia (beetle), Basedowia ...

* Typhlorhinini

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1932939 Beetle subfamilies